Relationship of Sattva - Tamas - Rajas to the 3 Doshas, to the 3 Poisons, to

the 5 Precepts (Yama), to the 5 Sense-Motor Organs,

to the 6 Perfections (Paramitas), to the 4 Unlimited Minds
DOSHAS TAMASIC RAJASIC SATTVIC
VATA 1. Greed. Delusion, lack of 1. Desire. Hyperactivity, fear, Clarity, creativity, lightness,
(SPACE – direction, indecisiveness, sadness, nervousness, anxiety, 4: Unlimited renunciation /
AIR) grief. ungroundedness, space-cadet / air- equanimity, aloneness – solitude
Precepts: 2: Stealing taking what’s head. Forgetfulness, isolation, Spiritual Practice Affinities:
75% rajas
not given. 4: a.) Lying. b.) Divisive loneliness, separation, divorce, Space: Mantra Air: Mudra,
20% sattva
gossipy speech c.) Loose- non-filial respect: Alzheimer’s Pranayama is natural but should be
5% tamas
chitchat-motor-mouth speech – Disease balanced with reading Sutras (Pitta)
Leaking away Qi / Ojas – & Bhakti (Kapha) and
Changeable Immunity. Samantabhadra Great Practice
Element - Cognitive-Motor
Catabolic 5: Caffeine - Cigarette - Drug Bodhisattva & Earth Store Great
Organ:
addiction: techno ecstasy, MaryJane Vows Bodhisattva
Space: Sounds (Ears-Mouth)
Air: Touch (Skin-Hands)

PITTA “Hot-heated” / Rash / Violent 2. Aggressiveness, 2. Precepts, 5. Samadhi,

(FIRE – 2. Anger – hatred (raw garlic, competitiveness, 6. Wisdom, knowledge,
WATER) onions, leeks, shallots, chives), power, prestige, name and fame. understanding, comprehension,
envy, jealousy (sour - vinegar) recognition
“Hot-blooded” Over-sexed Element - Cognitive-Motor Spiritual Practice Affinities:
50% rajas Mandala-Tangkha-Yantra-Trataka-
(from cooked garlic, onions, leeks, Organ: Fire: Forms – Sights
45% sattva Gazing, Tapasya, Manjushri
shallots, chives, hing) (Eyes-Feet) – Fancy possessions,
5% tamas Bodhisattva Wisdom and Sutra-
Precepts: luxuries
scripture study is natural but should
1: Killing (Mars - Warrior) be balanced with Meditation and 1st
Intense
3: Sexual affairs, rape Water: Tastes (Upper tongue – Precept – No Harm and Guan Yin
4: No Harsh Speech (pitta is fancy rich foods – expensive Avalokiteshvara Great Compassion
Metabolic honest) 5: Alcohol – coffee, sex restos) Bodhisattva, 3rd Precept – Brahma
addiction Lower tongue [genitals] – over
passionate)

KAPHA 3. Stupidity, Deep con-fusion, 3. Ignorance, Foolishness, Paramitas: 1: Generosity

(WATER- over-sexed (cooked garlic, onions, Attachment, stinginess, gluttony, 3: Patience (Shakyamuni Buddha)
EARTH) leeks, shallots, chives), depression, possessiveness, “My family 4: Vigor (Great Strength
stupor, unconsciousness, coma, ONLY”. Bodhisattva), 7: Vows (Earth Store
“Me Only” Great Vows Bodhisattva),
5% rajas Universal love, 1: Unlimited
20% sattva Element - Cognitive-Motor
Kindness (Maitreya Bodhisattva2:
75% tamas Precepts: Organ:
Unlimited Compassion / Sympathy
3: Sexual misconduct, sex Water: Tastes (Upper tongue –
(Avalokiteshvara Maha Karuna
addiction. candy, cookie, chocolate)
Relaxed Bodhisattva - Guan Yin),
4: a.) Irresponsible / profane
3: Unlimited Joy (Patch Adams)
speech. Lower tongue [genitals])
Anabolic Major obesity, 5: Sleep-Food-Porn- All living beings as my “family”
TV addiction (“Couch potato”) Spiritual Practice Affinities:
“If you control your upper tongue Water: Yama, 3rd Precept,
(tastes), you will control your lower Forgiveness and repentance (water).
tongue (sex organs)” Earth: Pure Land Nama Japa, Bakti,
Devotion, Earth Store Vows
Earth: Smells Bodhisattva, Seva, Giving, Caring,
Sweet candy, cookie, milky, ghee Incense, Bowing is natural but
(Nose and Anus “Kshiti” means should be balanced with Manjushri
earth and hence “Shitty”) energy, Sutra study: Wisdom /
Offered by Michael Reid Kreuzer, D.Ayur, Ph.D Ayurveda of Medicine Buddha Healing Center – www.Ayurveda-Institute.org
www.Ayurveda-Berkeley.com 1-510-292-6696 to book a health consultation. ARTICLE DONATION: $1.00

Based on and adapted from: Lad, Vasant, M.A.Sc., Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, New York, NY: Harmony Books, 1998: pp. 104-106.
Use under "fair use" provision (17 USC §107) of the U.S. Copyright Act for non-profit educational, research and religious purposes only.
 Medicine Buddha Healing Center – Vipashina
Ayurveda
“Aum Namo Bhagavaté Bhaisajya Guru Vaidurya Prabaha Rajaya Tathagataya Arhaté Samyaksambodhi Tadyata Aum Bhaisajé Bhaisajé Bhaisajya Samudgaté Svaha!” “Namo Ratna Trayaya. Namo Avalokiteshvaraya Bodhisattva. Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.”
Medicine King Bodhisattva Ax Hand 16: Syi lu seng e me chywe ye. Nan. Wei la ye. Wei la ye. Sa wa he. Willow Branch Mantra 12: “Mu di li. Nan. Su syi di. Jya li wa li. Dwo nan dwo. Mu dwo yi. Wa dz la. Wa dz la. Pan two. He nang he nang. Hung pan ja.”

DOSHAS TAMASIC RAJASIC SATTVIC

Prajna

Relationship of Sattva - Tamas - Rajas to 3 Doshas & Certain Foods

FOODS TAMASIC (OLD, OVER COOKED) RAJASIC (RAW) SATTVIC (FRESH LIGHTLY COOKED)
FRUITS avocado, watermelon, plums, Sour fruits: oranges, grapefruit, Mango, pomegranate, coconut, figs,
apricots lemons, apples, banana, guava peaches, pears

VEGETABLES Mushrooms, pumpkin, all Potatoes, nightshades, cauliflower, Sweet potato, lettuce, parsley,
genetically engineered (GMO) broccoli, spinach, tamarind, winter cilantro, sprouts, yellow squash
products squash, pickles

GRAINS Wheat, brown rice, all Millet, yellow corn, buckwheat Rice, especially basmati, tapioca,
genetically engineered (GMO) soft organic blue corn tortillas
products

BEANS Urad dal, black beans, pinto Red lentils, toor dal, adzuki beans Mung dal (meng bean sprouts),
beans, pink beans yellow lentils, kidney beans, lima
beans

DAIRY Cheese (hard, aged, salty, or Old sour cream, store bought Organic non-rBGH fresh Milk, fresh
stinky, fetid [Feta cheese]), yogurt (as opposed to fresh homemade yogurt, fresh cheese with
rBGH – recombinant Bovine homemade yogurt) no rennet (animal intestine), paneer
Growth Hormone (fresh-made cheese), organic ghee
SPICES, RAW Garlic, onions, leeks, Chili, cayenne, peppers, hot and Cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric,
COOKING shallots, chives, hing spicy, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, basil, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger,
(asafoetida). Cooked or heated pickles, chutney, raw uncooked saffron, sesame seeds, haritaki,
HERBS, honey (creates toxic build up – it honey, salt, ephedra, coffee, black amalaki, ashwagandha, brahmi,
CONDIMENT, is ama-genic), poppy seeds, tea, tobacco. calamus, camphor, myrrh,
MEDICINAL tagar, valerian, medical chamomile, chrysanthemum,
HEALING marijuana. ginseng, gokshura, jasmine, lotus,
rose, sandalwood, skullcap, tulsi,
HERBS
mint, pennyroyal, bayberry,
jatamamsi, licorice, shatavari,

MEATS AND Pork, beef, lamb, dark meat Fresh fish, shrimp, white meat No animal flesh products should be
FLESH chicken/turkey, bottom feeder chicken consumed by those wishing to
fish and lobster, canned, dried, cultivate Sattva (Purity - clarity) and
PRODUCTS frozen or old flesh products, Ahimsa (Do No Harm – Heal and
“factory farming” – 5 chickens Liberate Living Beings –
to one small cage, Shurangama Sutra, Medicine
de-beaking Master Buddha Sutra)

Sattva, rajas and tamas are the three gunas or qualities that are described respectively as the subtle essences of
pitta (fire and water), vata (space and air) and kapha (water and earth). Please request from Michael Reid
Kreuzer
a copy of the article “Guidelines for Determining One’s Mental Constitution via Buddhist Ayurveda Yoga.”
The Shurangama Sutra (www.BTTSonline.org) says cooked garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, chives or hing makes
one over-sexed (pitta-kapha disorders), and when eaten raw they make one angry (pitta liver disorders). These
are called “the five pungent plants” and ideally should not be eaten by cultivators of a spiritual path unless they
are sick and need to take them as medicines for short periods of time. These six “pungent plants” have a strong
effect on the body (rupa skandha in Sanskrit), the emotions (vedana skandha), the mind (samjna skandha),
one’s activities (karma and samskara skandha) and consciousness (vijnana skandha). Namo Vipashin Buddha!

Offered by Michael Reid Kreuzer, D.Ayur, Ph.D Ayurveda of Medicine Buddha Healing Center – www.Ayurveda-Institute.org
www.Ayurveda-Berkeley.com 1-510-292-6696 to book a health consultation. ARTICLE DONATION: $1.00

Based on and adapted from: Lad, Vasant, M.A.Sc., Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, New York, NY: Harmony Books, 1998: pp. 104-106.
Use under "fair use" provision (17 USC §107) of the U.S. Copyright Act for non-profit educational, research and religious purposes only.